jim billings took the idea from laura bush and made it a national event. it's an idea she had in texas. when she was first lady, brought it to washington, jim ran with the idea, didn't get the funding they would have liked, and so i helped with the funding. >> you're presenting an award, i understand, today? >> yes, i'm presenting awards to dc students who won awards for their essays about the books they have written or read and that they've written about i should say. >> when it comes to book festivals, nationwide there are festivals, are you supporting any others? >> no, i live in the washington area, so this was the best to support. there's a book festival in every country and state. the more people read, the better off the country and world is. >> what are you currently reading? >> i read about six or seven books a week. strictly fiction and books about biography and history and so forth. >> and timely, what is the carlisle group? >> carlisle group is a private equity firm i started with other people in 1987, based in washington, d.c., and we buy compa